bulkeley



Nov. 6 ,1923. 1,472,902

` C. ALBULKELEY` Y DRIER v Filed Jan. 2e 192C 4 sheets-sheet 1 N ov. 6, 1923. 1,472,902

c. A. BULKELEY DRIER Filed Jan. 26 1920 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. A. BULKELEY DRIER Filed Jan. 26 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 6, 1923. 1,472,902

C. A. BULKELEY DRIER Filed Jan. 26 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

UNITED (STATE-S PATENT O FLF'ICE.

CLAUDE A. BULKELEY, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, AssIeNonfro E. r. DoroNr DE NEMOURS sa COMPANY, or WrLiarNeron. DELAWARE, e corroizerron or DELA- WARE.

DRIER.

Application filed January 26, 1920. Serial No. 354,033.

llo lil/l whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLAUDE A. BULKuLriY, a. citizen ot the United States, and aresident ot' lVilmington, in the county of New Castle and State ot Delaware, have invented a certain new `and ,useful Drier, of which the .t'ollowing` is a specilication.

This invention relates to apparatus for drying' eni'lless-sheet material constantly ted thereto the illustra-ted apparatus beingr particularlyi'iseful in the treatment of photo- `njrapliic- 1tilms Yto dry the freshly coated wet emulsion thereon. I do not restrict the invention to apparatus for drying film, but since it `finds advantageous application in the film-drying art, I describe it with more particular reference to that art.

lu the manufacture of photographic tilnis a suitable flexible transparent base is coated with sensitized emulsion. After the coating operation the wet emulsion is dried'. A tilm is, ot course, a. long continuous sheet, so that a drier tor films should be capable ot continuously and unintcrruptedly handling long sheets of material. Also such a drier should be substantially dust proof. should dry the lilm uniformly and rapidly. and should have means tor holding` the lrn :trom curling* duringthe drying'. I have devised a lm drier having the above noted, and other, desiraliile l'eatures.

(lne object ot the invention is to provide a drier with which long sheets ot material, such as photographic films, can be continuously` rapidly and progressively "dried, such drier being' relatively short over-all.

Another object is to provide a drier (haviup* means tor holding ythe sheet being vdried. against curling. l

uother object i s to provide a drier having conveying means in the character ot an endloss4 hcl! proviffledwith means for clamping the scheet being` dried to the belt. alongits edges, such c mping' means being automat-ico .j operative to grasp the sheet at its enti ,une to the drier, hold. the sheet during its travel through the drier, and release it at its exit Vfrom the drier.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon apparatus of the character indicated, my invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and claimed.

`ln the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, substantially on line 1 1 of Figure 8, of afilm drier embodying` my invention, a portion ot the length thereof being broken out to econouiize space, and the dehumidifying air conditioner, blower, and related parts being somewhat conventionally shown;

Figure 2 is au elevational view of the receiving and delivery end of the drier, showing' the storage mandrel tor the tinished goods;

Figure 3 `is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8 3 of Figure 1, the rear belt drum being` indicated in dot-ted lines;

Figure 4t is a perspective iragmental view et the camtrack and certain ot' the clips cooperating' therewith, together with certain oit the parts immediately related thereto, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view ot one ot the clips and its mounting.

Reiter-ring; now to the drawings The illustrated apparatus comprises a sheet metal box-like structure designa ted ,generally as 1. The side wals 1 oi3 the structure carry upper and lower partitions-2 and 3, respectively, extending` tully across the structure and connected by the eud partitions l and 5, to present a. species oic closed box within the structure 1 with its sides provided by portions ot' the side walls 1 and the box 'proriding); a dead space77 within the structure 1. There is thus provided a torward-and-back drying` chamber designated generally as 6 and composed ot the upper reach v(3, lower reach til and connecting portion. 6, the chamber being closed except tor suitable entrance and exit passages tor the dryingr air and tor the lilm. lVith this arrangement*the drying air cau bc introducetfl at the end ot the .lower reach lh to travel therealong, then along1 the portion il. and then backward alongr the length ot' the reach 61. A. dehumidiiiying air ioiiditioner` designated `generally as 7 and comicctcd with the lower reach 6b at tl. au air return connection as 9. and a blower .lll together provide 'for the circulation and condilioning` ot the drying air.

ln vendless film-carrying' hielt 11 iscarried upon a driven drum 1Q and idler drum 13 arranged at opposite eudsoit the. structurel, and 'in operation moves -from theA drum 12 along the upper reach 6EL and back along the reach 6b.

Since the structure 1, with its partitions, fully provides the chamber 6, the belt 11 is not used for chamber-forming purposes, as it would be were the partitions 2 and 3 omitted g therefore the clearance between the sides of the belt and the sides of the structure can be made as great as desired, as for rollers, etc., withoutin any way interfering with the proper separation of the reaches 61l and 5b. Clips, designated generally as 14, are carried at each side of the belt and, normally, their fingers are forced toward the belt to clamp the sheet of' film F thereon substantially throughout the length of the belt, but as they approach the exit from the chamber they are moved to film-releasing position by cam-tracks 16, one at each side of the belt, and later are released. to clamp the film just being introduced.

With this arrangement, a sheet of film F travelling the circuit of the chamber has its emulsionidried by the air current travelling in the opposite direction, the drier air meeting the drier emulsion, and it will be noted that the air moves along the surface of the film and parallel thereto and, so, acts on each portion of the surface with maximum effect, there being no such inequality of action as would occur were the film hung in festoons. The endless belt 11, combined with the clips which hold the film to the belt along the lower span, permits a relatively7 short over-all length for the apparatns,with the advantage of saving floor space. The clips not only hold the film on the belt for conveying purposes but also they hold the film from curling longitudinally as it has a tendency to do. lAlso, with the film held firmly to the belt, its proper passage through the chamber without attention while in tbe chamber is assured, so that it is unnecessary for attendants to open or enter the chamber. Thus entrance or stirring up of dust is avoided.

As to the details of the illustrated apparatusr- The belt 11 carries, substantially equally spaced therealong throughout its length and suitably attached thereto as by rivets 17, a series of cross bars 18 each having an axle 19 at each end, for wheels 20. These wheels travel upon the upper cross partition 2 du rA ing the forward travel of the belt and travel upon the rails 21 during the backward travel of the belt, suitable spacing strips being preferably used, This structure provides for the proper support of the belt between the drums.

A clip 14 (Figure 5) is fixed adjacent each end of each cross bar, as by a screw 23, lt comprises a bell-crank whose arms 15 and 24 respectively carry the clip blocl 1m and the roller 24a. The bell-crank is urged to imanes turn about its pivot stud 25 to force the clip block toward the belt and grip the film, being actuated by a spring 26 connected to the bell-crank at 26a and connected to the stud at 2Gb. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by turning the stud in the supports 2T and fixing it by the set screw 28.

The arm 24 is the controller arm of the clip. Each cam track, 1G, with which the clips cooperate (Figure et) is so contoured that as the clip travels parallel to it, and the roller .24ea wipes it (on the face 16a) the clip block 15a is gradually lifted from the film to fully release the film somewhat prior to the belt reaching the drum 12, is held in releasing position until it reaches the point where the entering film is meeting the belt. and is then quickly released to grasp the film. The relations of the parts are such that, before the portion of the belt which is immediately associated with one pair of opposite clips leaves the drum 12 the pair of clips next behind clamps the film. In this way it is provided that the section of film between the two pairs of clips is clamped to the belt while the film is being laid onto the belt and curved about the drum 12 to easily conform to the curve thereof, the film, of course, being fed to the belt freely and without any stretching; thus, there is provided suflicient film between the various clips to span the distances between the clips (longitudinally of the belt) without stretching the film when the belt and film pass around the drum 13 the .drums being of substantially the same diameter. The clip blocks 151 are desirably serrated, as indicated'at 15b in a direction parallel to that of the travel of the air With this provision, not only is the holding ability of the block improved, but also the air can travel beneath the clip block along the surface of the film.

A cam track may be merely a strip of metal suitably bent substantially as shown and may be conveniently located with respect t0 the drum, as indicated, by brackets 29.

The drum 12 has its shaft 30, to which the drum is fixed. rotatably mounted in bearings 31 and 32 of any desired type and preferably of the take up type as shown, to provide for shifting the drinn to take up the belt. The drum may be driven by power supplied to the belt pulley 33. The idle-r drum 13 has its shaft 34. to which it is attached` rotatably mounted in suit-able bearings 35 and 36, the shaft projecting through the sides of the structure 1 and being closely surrounded byfsaid sides in a substantially air tight manner.

The film F is desirably continuously delivered over a supporting roller, conventionally indicated at 37, Figure 1, and festooned between said roller andthe drum to lfltl lill) lil) 1 ,arance place it iin properpositio'n to be grasped .by

the clips and connected to Vt-he belt along a portion thereof lying on the drum. The dried film ispassed over a supporting roller 38, in substantial alignment with the vlower span of the belt, and, if desired, over a second roller 38', and thence to the wind-up mandrel 39. The latter is driven by power applied tothe driving pulley 40, though a friction clutch 4l compensating VJfor changes in the diameter ot the-roll. otfilm.

v The air treating apparatusmay be of any suitable type. It is conveniently shown as comprising the dehumidifying `air conditioner 7 with its sprays ot chilled water 42, entrained `water eliminator 43 and heater 14; and the spray tank 45, the Baudelot cooler 46 including, as is usual, a series oi` cooling pipes favplaced one above the other and over which the liquid to be cooled flows, and the circulating pumps 47 and 48 for pumping the Water from the tank to the cooler 4G and back'to the spraying device.

Although I have described the invention by reference to the illustrated apparatus it will `be understood that I do not restrict it thereto.

I claim:

1. In a drier, in combination, an inclosing structure having partition means therein providing a forWard-and-'back drying chamber, and means for conveying thel material to be dried along said chamber; said partition means extending longitudinally of said structure and bridging the same from side to4 side thereby to form the Yforward reach and the backward reach ot' said chamber independently ot said conveying means.

E2. In a drier, `in combination, an inclosing structure having partition means therein providing a forward-and-back drying chamber having separated forward and bach reaches, and a single means for conveying the material along the forward reach and the backward reach; said partition means extending longitudinally of said structure and bridging the same troni. side to side thereby to form the forward reach and the backward reach of said chamber independently of said conveying means.

In a drier, in combination, an inclosingr structure having partition means therein providing a forward-and-back drying chamber having separated 'forward and back reaches. means itor conveying the material to hc dried ralong said chamber, and provisions for the circulation of a column ot drying fluid in said chamber along the reaches in succession; said partition means extending longitudinally of said structure and bridging the same 'from side to side thereby to form the forwa rdreach and the lntckwardv reach of said chamber independently .oit said conveying vineans.

4. In a drier, in combination, an inclosing 'structure having partition means therein providing a forward-and-back drying chamber, means for conveying the material to be dried along said chamber, and provisions tor the circulation otl drying iuid along the length of said chamber in a direction opposite to that oit the travel ot said means; said partition means extending longitudinally of said structure and bridging the saine from side to side thereby to form the forward reach and the backward reach oi said chamber independently ot said conveying means.-

5. In a drier, in combination, an inclosing structure having partition means therein providing a forward-and-back drying chambcr having separated forward and back reaches, means for conveying' the material to be dried along said chamber, and provisions for the circulation of a column of drying Huid along the length of said chamber and along the reaches in succession and in a direction opposite to that of the travel of said means; said partition means extending longitiuilinally oif Vsaid structure and bridging the Vsame from side to side thereby to torni the forward reach and the backward reach of said chamber independently ot said conveying means.

6. Ina drier, in combination. a structure providing a forward-and-back drying chamber including two joined longitudinally extending passages, a conveyor in the character of, an endless belt arranged tor the travel ot one of its spans in one of the passages of said chamberl and its other span in the other passage.` and means associated with said belt to "travel therewith 'tor holding the material to be dried upon said belt.Y

7. In a drier, in con'ibination, a structure providing a torward-and-back drying chamber including two joined longitudinally extending passages, a conveyor in the character oi an endless belt arrange l' tor travel of one of its span in lone ot the passages oit said chambe 1 and its other span in the other iiassage, and means associated with said'belt to travel therewith 'tor holding the material to be dried upon said belt, said means comprising a series of spaced material-grasping units arranged alongeach side ot the belt.

S. In a drier tor sheet material. in combination. coni'eying means in the 1'l1aracter ol' a` belt, aud means associated with said belt for holdin-g the sheet to bc'dri'ed upon the tace ot said belt.

9. In a drier, in combination. a structure adapted to be liorizontaliy arranged and presenting a drying' space cxtendingalong the conveying means in the character ot a belt extending along said space. and means `associated with said belt tor holding the material to bedried upon the lower tace oit said belt as the belt travels along said space.

l0, lin a drier, in combination, a structure pro'ifiding a forward-and-back drying chamber comprising a forward and a back passage, conv-ying means in the character of an endless belt having one span arranged in one said passage and the other span in the other passage, and means associated with said belt tor holdingsheet material to be dried upon the belt; said structure being provided with an entrance to said forward passage, and with an exit troni said back passage in proximity to said entrance, whereby the said sheet material may be fed to said conveying means tarough said entrance, held to said belt during substantially a full round ot travel of said belt, and discharged through said exit adjacent the entering portion of the sheet.

ll. In a drier for sheet material, in combination, means tor supporting the material and on which said material is held, and means associated with said supporting means 'for clamping the sheet material substantially merely along its side edges, and without material contact with face ot' said material, and holding them fixed with respect to the supporting means.

l2. In a drier for sheet material, in combination, means for conveying the material and on which said material is held, and means associated with said conveying means for clamping the sheet material substantially merely along its side edges, and without material Contact with face of said material, and holding them fixed with respect to the conveying means.

13. ln a drier for sheet material, in combination, an element for conveying the material and on which the material is held, means tor clamping the material in fixed relation to the element,` such means including a clip associated with the element adliacent its edge to travel with said element and comprising a support and a two-armed member having a connection with said support providing for one of said arms moving' to and from said element to clamp and release the material, and means arranged in the path ot travel of the other arm of said lever for vimmediate cooperation with and actuation of the same thereby to control the movement of said first-named arm.

1.4;. ln a drier Jfor sheet material, in combination, element for conveying the material and on which the materia-l is held, means `tor clamping the material in fixed relation to thc element and including a clip associated with the element adjacent its edge and comprising a support, bell-crank pivotcd on said support with its pivotal axis parallel to the edge of said elementwhereby one arm of said bell-crank can swing to and from said element and the material to clamp and release the same, the other arm of said bellcranlbeing in the character of a cam-follower, and means for controlling the movements of said bell-crank and in the character of a cam-track located in the path of the said cam-follower to be followed thereby.

15. In a drier for sheet material, in coinbination, means for conveying the material and comprising a pair ot' spaced drums and a belt carried by said drums and conforming to portion ot the surface of each drum, means 'for fixing the material with respect to said belt, such means comprising operated material-clamping units spaced longitudinally of the belt and carried therewith, and means for controlling the operation of said units, such controlling` means being constituted and arranged, and said units being relatively arranged, to provide for the moving into clamping position of two of said longitudinally spaced units while at least one of said units is upon a drum and spaced trom the other unit a substantial distance circumterentially of the drum.

16. In a drier for sheet material, in combination. moans for conveying' the material and con'iprising a pair ot' spaced drums and a belt carried by said drums and conforming to a portion of the surface of each drum, means for fixing the material with respect to said belt, such means comprising operated material-clamping units spaced longitudinally of the belt and carried therewith, and means for controlling the operation of said units, such controllingl means being constituted and arranged, and said units being relatively arranged, to provide for the holding of the material to the belt by one unit, and the moving of another and longitudinally spaced unit into clamping position while such two units are upon one of the drums. thereby to provide for the fixing with respect to the belt of that length of said material lying` between said two units, while said length lies curved upon such drum.

17. In a drier for strip material, in combination, a structure providing a. longitudinally extending drying chamber having an entrance and an exit adjacent each other, an endless belt conveyor arranged longitudinally in said structure with its spans one in proximity to said entrance and the other in proximity to said exit. means 'for clamping a strip of material to the belt along the stripl and substantially throughout the length of the belt, and means to control the action of said clamping means to clamp the strip adiacent the entrance to said chamber and release the strip adjacent the crit ot said chamber; whereby the strip may enter the chamber. malte substantially a round of travel with the belt` and leave the chamber.

18. In a film drier, in combination, a struct-ure providing a. fornf'ard-and-baclr drying chamber comprising a forward andy a back passage, an endless belt conveyor arranged in said structure with its spans arranged one in the forward passage and one in the back passage, means for clamping a strip of film to the belt along the edges of the film and substantially throughout the length of said belt, and means for c0ntrolling the action of said clamping means to clamp the film adjacent the entrance t0 said chamber and release the film adjacent the exit from said chamber.

19. In a film drier, in combination, a structure providing a forwardand-back drying chamber comprising a forward and a back passage, an endless belt conveyor arranged in said structure with its spans arranged one in the forward passage and one in the hack passage` means for clamping a strip of film to the belt along the edges of the film and` substantially throughout the length of said belt, means for controlling the action of said clamping means to clamp the film adjacent ythe entrance to said chamber and release the film adjacent the exit from said chamber, and means for circulating drying finid in said chamber.

20. In a film drier, in combination, a structure providing a forWard-and-back drying chamber comprising a forward and a back passage, an endless belt conveyor arranged in said structure with its spans arranged one in the forward passage and one in the back passage, means for clamping a strip of lilm to the belt along the edges of the film and substantially throughout the length of said belt, means for controllingthe action of' said clamping means to clamp the film adjacent the entrance to said chamber and release the film adjacent the exit from said chamber, and means for circulating drying fluid in said chamber in a direction counter to the direction of travel of the belt.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLAUDE BULKELEY. 

